Cable reader labeling

ABSTRACT

Various systems and methods are provided that allow reviewers to properly and timely label communications and easily view such communications. Certain systems and methods organize one or more communications in a tile layout so that reviewers can properly and timely label communications. A reviewer can hover over any of the communications to view more details regarding the communication and/or label the communication. For example, while the cursor is placed over the displayed communication, the reviewer can provide a command, such as a key command. Once the command is provided, the displayed communication is labeled with a label associated with the command.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/332,312, filed on Jul. 15, 2014 and titled “CABLE READER LABELING,” which claims a priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/863,792, filed on Aug. 8, 2013, and titled “CABLE READER LABELING,” both of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to systems and techniques for data integration, analysis, and visualization.

BACKGROUND

Commercial entities, law firms, government entities, and others, gather and process an enormous amount of information. Some of the information gathered and processed is in the form of electronic messages or other such communications. These communications are generated by employees, contractors, or clients and are sent to reviewers (e.g., analysts, other employees, other contractors, other clients, etc.) for review. Often, reviewers review communications related to a common topic or region.

However, because of the enormous amount of information gathered and processed, it can be difficult for reviewers to identify communications that are related to the topic or region that the reviewers are analyzing. While some communications may include benign information (e.g., hours that government offices are expected to be open), other communications may include information that is vital for successfully pursuing business opportunities, proving innocence or guilt, or the like. Thus, communications that are misidentified or that are unidentified can have serious repercussions.

SUMMARY

The systems, methods, and devices described herein each have several aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of this disclosure, several non-limiting features will now be discussed briefly.

A message reader system is disclosed herein that allows reviewers to properly and timely label communications and easily view such communications. The message reader system may organize one or more communications in a tile layout so that reviewers can properly and timely label communications.

In one embodiment, a reviewer can hover over any of the communications to view more details regarding the communication and/or label the communication. For example, the reviewer can move a cursor, such as a mouse pointer or a finger, over a displayed communication. The size of the displayed communication may expand while the cursor is placed over the displayed communication so that the reviewer can view a larger portion (or the entire) content of the displayed communication. As another example, while the cursor is placed over the displayed communication, the reviewer can provide a command, such as selection of a keyboard button, a gesture, a voice command, a mouse input, another keyboard input, and/or the like. Once the command is provided, the displayed communication is labeled with a label associated with the command. Thus, the message reader system advantageously enables communications to be easily viewable and labeled quickly via the movement of a cursor and the selection of a command.

One aspect of the disclosure provides a computing system configured to display a large amount of dynamically updating data. In this embodiment, the computing system comprises a network interface that is coupled to a data network for receiving and transmitting one or more packet flows. The computing system further comprises a computer processor. The computing system further comprises a computer readable storage medium storing program instructions configured for execution by the computer processor in order to cause the computing system to: access a plurality of confidential messages; display the plurality of confidential messages in a tile layout in a first view, wherein each confidential message is displayed in a separate tile; receive a first selection of a first tile in the tile layout in response to a user placing a cursor over the first tile, where the first tile displays a first confidential message; receive a second selection of a label in response to the user selecting a key command while the cursor is placed over the first tile; update a message association data structure to indicate a link between the label and the first confidential message in response to receiving the second selection; and update display of the first tile to include the first confidential message and an indication of the selected label.

The computing system of the preceding paragraph can have any sub-combination of the following features: where the one or more stored program instructions further cause the processor to: receive a third selection of a second label in response to the user selecting a second key command while the cursor is placed over the first tile, update the message association data structure to indicate a link between the second label and the first confidential message in response to receiving the third selection, and update display of the first tile to include the first confidential message and an indication of the second label; where the label is associated with a category, and wherein the second label is associated with a sub-category of the category; where the one or more stored program instructions further cause the processor to: display in the first view a count of a number of confidential messages associated with the label, and updating the count in response to the update of the message association data structure; where the one or more stored program instructions further cause the processor to display an expanded view of the first tile in the first view in response to the user selecting the first tile; where the one or more stored program instructions further cause the processor to: display one or more labels in a second view, receive a third selection of a second label in the one or more labels in the second view, and display one or more confidential messages associated with the second label in the tile layout; and where the cursor comprises at least one of a mouse pointer or a finger of the user.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a computer-implemented method of displaying a large amount of dynamically updating data. In this embodiment, the computer-implemented method comprises, as implemented by one or more computer systems comprising computer hardware and memory, the one or more computer systems configured with specific executable instructions, accessing a plurality of messages; displaying the plurality of messages in a tile layout in a first view, wherein each message is displayed in a separate tile; receiving a first selection of a first tile in the tile layout in response to a user placing a cursor over the first tile, wherein the first tile displays a first message; receiving a second selection of a label in response to the user selecting a key command while the cursor is placed over the first tile; updating a message association data structure to indicate a link between the label and the first message in response to receiving the second selection; and updating display of the first tile to include the first message and an indication of the selected label.

The computer-implemented method of the preceding paragraph can have any sub-combination of the following features: where the computer-implemented method further comprises receiving a third selection of a second label in response to the user selecting a second key command while the cursor is placed over the first tile, updating the message association data structure to indicate a link between the second label and the first message in response to receiving the third selection, and updating display of the first tile to include the first message and an indication of the second label; where the label is associated with a category, and wherein the second label is associated with a sub-category of the category; where the computer-implemented method further comprises displaying in the first view a count of a number of messages associated with the label, and updating the count in response to the update of the message association data structure; where the computer-implemented method further comprises displaying an expanded view of the first tile in the first view in response to the user selecting the first tile; and where the computer-implemented method further comprises displaying one or more labels in a second view, receiving a third selection of a second label in the one or more labels in the second view, and displaying one or more messages associated with the second label in the tile layout.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising one or more program instructions recorded thereon, the instructions configured for execution by a computing system comprising one or more processors in order to cause the computing system to: access a plurality of messages; display the plurality of messages in a tile layout in a first view, wherein each message is displayed in a separate tile; receive a first selection of a first tile in the tile layout in response to a user placing a cursor over the first tile, wherein the first tile displays a first message; receive a second selection of a label in response to the user providing a command while the cursor is placed over the first tile; update a message association data structure to indicate a link between the label and the first message in response to receiving the second selection; and update display of the first tile to include the first message and an indication of the selected label.

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of the preceding paragraph can have any sub-combination of the following features: where the instructions are further configured to cause the computing system to: receive a third selection of a second label in response to the user selecting a second command while the cursor is placed over the first tile, update the message association data structure to indicate a link between the second label and the first message in response to receiving the third selection, and update display of the first tile to include the first message and an indication of the second label; where the label is associated with a category, and wherein the second label is associated with a sub-category of the category; where the instructions are further configured to cause the computing system to: display in the first view a count of a number of messages associated with the label, and update the count in response to the update of the message association data structure; where the instructions are further configured to cause the computing system to display an expanded view of the first tile in the first view in response to the user selecting the first tile; where the instructions are further configured to cause the computing system to: display one or more labels in a second view, receive a third selection of a second label in the one or more labels in the second view, and display one or more messages associated with the second label in the tile layout; and where the command comprises at least one a gesture, a voice command, a mouse input, or a keyboard input.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a message reader system for labeling confidential messages according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example user interface of the message reader system including confidential messages displayed in a tile layout.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example user interface of the message reader system in which a confidential message is selected by hovering with a cursor.

FIGS. 4A-B illustrate example user interfaces of the message reader system in which a label is selected for a confidential message using a key command.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example user interface of the message reader system in which a confidential message is selected by hovering or gesturing with a finger.

FIGS. 6A-B illustrate other example user interfaces of the message reader system in which a label is selected for a confidential message using a key command.

FIG. 7 illustrates another example user interface of the message reader system in which a confidential message is selected by hovering with a cursor.

FIGS. 8A-B illustrate other example user interfaces of the message reader system in which a confidential message is labeled using a key command.

FIG. 9 illustrates another example user interface of the message reader system in which a confidential message is selected by hovering with a cursor.

FIGS. 10A-B illustrate other example user interfaces of the message reader system in which a confidential message is labeled using a key command.

FIGS. 11A-B illustrate example user interfaces of the message reader system in which a confidential message includes a label.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example user interface of the message reader system in which a set of labels and sub-labels are displayed.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart depicting one embodiment of a method of operation of the message reader system.

FIG. 14 illustrates one embodiment of a computer system with which certain methods discussed herein may be implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Overview

Disclosed herein are various systems and methods that allow reviewers to properly and timely label communications and easily view such communications. Certain systems and methods described herein organize one or more communications in a tile layout so that reviewers can properly and timely label communications. A reviewer can hover over any of the communications to view more details regarding the communication and/or label the communication. For example, the reviewer can move a cursor, such as a mouse pointer or a finger, over a displayed communication. In some embodiments, the size of the displayed communication expands while the cursor is placed over the displayed communication so that the reviewer can view a larger portion (or the entire) content of the displayed communication. In addition, while the cursor is placed over the displayed communication, the reviewer can provide a command (e.g., selection of a keyboard button, a gesture, a voice command, a mouse input, another keyboard input, etc.). Once the command is provided, the displayed communication is labeled with a label associated with the command. In this way, communications are easily viewable and can be labeled quickly via the movement of a cursor and the selection of a command.

Message Network System Overview

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a message reader system 100 for labeling confidential messages. The message reader system 100 comprises one or more companies 110, a reviewer device 130, a message data sever 140, and a network 120.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the one or more companies 110, which may be implemented by one or more first physical computing devices, are communicatively connected to message data server 140, which may be implemented by one or more second physical computing devices, over the network 120. Similarly, the reviewer device 130 may be implemented by one or more third physical computing devices and may be communicatively connected to the message data server 140 over the network 120. In some embodiments, each such physical computing device may be implemented as a computer system including some or all of the components illustrated in the example computing system 1400 of FIG. 14. For example, the one or more companies 110 and/or the reviewer device 130 may be implemented in a computer system as a set of program instructions recorded on a machine-readable storage medium.

The one or more companies 110 represent devices operated by employees, contractors, or other personnel associated with a commercial entity, a law firm, a government entity, and/or the like. The employees, contractors, or other personnel associated with a commercial entity, a law firm, a government entity, and/or the like may draft messages (e.g., electronic messages, confidential government cables, etc.) to communicate a field update, gathered information, a news report, and/or the like. These messages may be transmitted to the message data server 140 for storage.

The reviewer device 130 represents a device operated by a reviewer that reviews and/or analyzes messages received from the message data server 140. Depending on the embodiment, the reviewer may be a salesperson, administrator, executive, analyst, or other representative of a commercial or governmental entity. The reviewer device 130 comprises a message viewer 135. The message viewer 135 allows the reviewer to view and/or manipulate one or more messages via a graphical user interface (GUI). For example, the message viewer 135 may include GUI logic. The GUI logic may be a set of program instructions configured for execution by one or more computer processors of the reviewer device 130, which are operable to receive user input and to display a graphical representation of the messages using the approaches described herein. The GUI logic may be operable to receive user input from, and display a graphical representation of the messages to, a GUI that is provided on a display (not shown) by the computer system on which the reviewer device 130 executes.

In some embodiments, the GUI logic is omitted. For example, in one embodiment, the reviewer device 130 (and specifically the message viewer 135) may comprise an application program or process that issues one or more function calls or application programming interface (API) calls to the message data server 140 to obtain information resulting from, to provide input to, and to execute along with the message data server 140, the processes or one or more steps thereof as described herein. For example, the reviewer device 130 may request messages using a programmatic interface, and then the reviewer, using the reviewer device 130, may use, process, log, store, label, and/or otherwise interact with the messages according to local logic. The reviewer device 130 may also interact with the message data server 140 to provide input, labeling instructions, and/or other data as described herein using a programmatic interface, and then the message data server 140 may use, process, log, store, label, and/or otherwise interact with the messages according to the message data server 140 logic.

The message data server 140 may be implemented as a special-purpose computer system having logical elements. In an embodiment, the logical elements may comprise program instructions recorded on one or more machine-readable storage media. Alternatively, the logical elements may be implemented in hardware, firmware, or a combination thereof.

When executed by one or more processors of the computer system, logic in the message data server 140 is operable to analyze and/or label the messages according to the techniques described herein. In one embodiment, the message data server 140 may be implemented in a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) that is executing in a distributed or non-distributed computer system. In other embodiments, the message data server 140 may be implemented as a combination of programming instructions written in any programming language (e.g. C++ or Visual Basic) and hardware components (e.g., memory, CPU time) that have been allocated for executing the program instructions.

In an embodiment, the network 120 includes any communications network, such as the Internet. The network 120 may be a wired network, a wireless network, or a combination of the two. For example, network 120 may be a local area network (LAN) and/or a wireless area network (WAN).

Message Reader Labeling

FIG. 2 illustrates a user interface 200 of the message reader system 100 including confidential messages 210 a-l displayed in a tile layout 205. As an example, the confidential messages 210 a-l may be confidential government cables. The user interface 200 may be displayed by the message viewer 135 as described above.

The confidential messages 210 a-l may be received from the message data server 140. In some embodiments, a portion of the content of each confidential message 210 a-l (e.g., a title, an excerpt of the body of the message, a document or message identification code, etc.) is displayed in the tile layout 205. To view the entire content of a confidential message 210 a-l, the reviewer can click a mouse button while hovering over the confidential message 210 a-l or tap with a finger while hovering over the confidential message 210 a-l. While the confidential messages 210 a-l are illustrated in FIG. 2 as being displayed in a rectangular format and in a tile layout, this is not meant to be limiting. The confidential messages 210 a-l (or a portion thereof) may be displayed in any shape and in any format in the user interface 200. For example, the confidential messages 210 a-l may be displayed in list form (e.g., each confidential message occupies at least one horizontal line in the user interface 200) rather than in a tile layout.

In an embodiment, the user interface 200 further displays one or more labels in a label window 212. The labels represent categories and/or sub-categories that can be applied to a confidential message. The labels may be associated with a count (e.g., a number of confidential messages that fall within the category represented by the label) and an identification number or code. For example, the labels in the label window 212 include “Bosnia” (with a count of 96 and an identification number of “1”), “Somalia” (with a count of 243 and an identification number of “2”), “Pakistan” (with a count of 312 and an identification number of “3”), “Iran” (with a count of 291 and an identification number of “4”), “Iraq” (with a count of 155 and an identification number of “5”), and “Syria” (with a count of 349 and an identification number of “6”).

As described and illustrated below, once a confidential message is labeled, the label and/or the identification number or code of the label is displayed with the confidential message. To view one or more confidential messages that are associated with a particular the label, the reviewer can click on the title, count, and/or identification number of code of the label in the label window 212.

FIG. 3 illustrates the user interface 200 of the message reader system 100 in which the confidential message 210 h is selected by hovering with a cursor 320. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the cursor 320 is a mouse pointer, but may be any other indicia in other embodiments.

In an embodiment, when a reviewer moves the cursor 320 over a confidential message 210 a-l (e.g., when the cursor 320 hovers over a confidential message 210 a-l), the confidential message 210 a-l is highlighted and/or otherwise changes appearances to provide feedback that the confidential message 210 a-l is selected. In the example of FIG. 3, the cursor 320 is located over the confidential message 210 h. The border of the confidential message 210 h is bolded to provide feedback that the confidential message 210 h is selected.

Once a confidential message 210 a-l is selected (e.g., by hovering over the confidential message 210 a-l), the reviewer can perform an operation. For example, the reviewer can label the confidential message 210 a-l with one or more of the labels listed in the label window 212.

FIGS. 4A-B illustrate user interfaces 200 of the message reader system 100 in which a label is selected for the confidential message 210 h using a key command. For example, a label may be applied to the confidential message 210 h when a key command associated with the particular label is selected while the cursor 320 is hovering over the confidential message 210 h.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the label “Bosnia” may be applied to the confidential message 210 h when a keyboard button associated with the subject or title (e.g., “Bosnia”) of the label, such as “b” key 430 a of a keyboard of the reviewer device, is pressed while the cursor 320 is hovering over the confidential message 210 h. As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the label “Bosnia” may be applied to the confidential message 210 h when a keyboard button associated with the identification number or code (e.g., “1”) of the label, such as “1” key 430 b of the keyboard of the reviewer device, is pressed while the cursor 320 is hovering over the confidential message 210 h. The keyboard can be a physical keyboard or a virtual keyboard that appears in a display, such as a touchscreen display.

In other embodiments, not shown, additional labels can be applied to a confidential message 210 a-l when a second key command associated with the particular label is selected while the cursor 320 is hovering over the confidential message 210 a-l. For example, a first key command, such as the selection of key 430 a, applies a first label to a confidential message 210 a-l. After the first label is applied, the reviewer can provide a second key command to apply a second label to the confidential message 210 a-l. The second label may be a sub-label of the first label (e.g., a sub-category of the category represented by the first label) or a label of a different family than the first label. In this manner, the reviewer can select one or more of many labels for assignment to a particular message and assign those labels with minimal interactions, such as a mouse over (e.g., without clicking on the messages) and pressing of a keyboard key.

While FIGS. 4A-B illustrate the selection of a key command to label a confidential message 210 a-l, the use of a key command is not meant to be limiting. A confidential message 210 a-l can be labeled when any command is provided while the cursor 320 is hovering over the confidential message 210 a-l. For example, a gesture, a voice command, a mouse input, and/or another keyboard input can be used to label the confidential message 210 h while the cursor 320 is hovering over the confidential message 210 h.

In some embodiments, the cursor used to hover over a confidential message is a mouse pointer. However, in other embodiments, the cursor used to hover over a confidential message can be a finger of a user or reviewer.

FIG. 5 illustrates the user interface 200 of the message reader system 100 in which the confidential message 210 h is selected by hovering or gesturing with a finger 520. For example, the message viewer 135 can display the GUI on a touchscreen. The user or reviewer can touch, touch and hold, or touch and release a displayed confidential message to select the confidential message. As another example, the user or reviewer can place a finger a certain distance above a displayed confidential message to select the confidential message. As another example, the user or reviewer can perform a gesture (e.g., a swipe of the finger over a confidential message) to select the confidential message.

FIGS. 6A-B illustrate other user interfaces 200 of the message reader system 100 in which a label is selected for the confidential message 210 h using a key command. As described above with respect to FIGS. 4A-B, a label may be applied to the confidential message 210 h when a key command associated with the particular label is selected while the cursor 320 is hovering over the confidential message 210 h. Likewise, one or more labels may be applied to the confidential message 210 h when one or more key commands (or any other commands described above) associated with the particular label are selected while the finger 520 has selected (e.g., touches or hovers over) the confidential message 210 h in any of the ways described above.

As described above, a confidential message can change its appearance to provide feedback to the reviewer that the confidential message is selected. FIG. 7 illustrates another user interface 700 of the message reader system 100 in which the confidential message 210 h is selected by hovering with the cursor 320. Any discussion herein of the cursor 320 can be a mouse pointer, the finger 520 of a reviewer, a stylus, and/or any other object capable of providing input. The cursor 320 can be used to select a confidential message in any manner as described above with respect to the mouse pointer 320 or the finger 520. Unlike the confidential message 210 h as illustrated in FIG. 3, the confidential message 210 h as illustrated in FIG. 7 includes a bolded border and a larger size to provide feedback that the confidential message 210 h is selected.

A confidential message that is selected, such as the confidential message 210 h, may overlap and hide portions of nearby confidential messages in the tile layout 205. In some embodiments, the larger size of the confidential message 210 h allows the reviewer to view a larger portion of the content of the confidential message 210 h. In this way, the reviewer can view more information to aid in determining how to label the confidential message without having to perform the extra step of clicking on the confidential message (e.g., the reviewer merely has to hover over the confidential message to view more information).

FIGS. 8A-B illustrate other user interfaces 700 of the message reader system 100 in which the confidential message 210 h is labeled using a key command. As described above with respect to FIGS. 4A-B and FIGS. 6A-B, one or more labels may be applied to the confidential message 210 h when one or more key commands (or any other commands described above) associated with the particular label are selected while the confidential message 210 h is selected in any manner described above.

FIG. 9 illustrates another user interface 900 of the message reader system 100 in which the confidential message 210 h is selected by hovering with the cursor 320. Unlike the confidential message 210 h as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 7, the confidential message 210 h as illustrated in FIG. 9 includes a bolded border and a size that fills the tile layout 205 portion of the user interface 900 to provide feedback that the confidential message 210 h is selected.

In some embodiments, the larger size of the confidential message 210 h allows the reviewer to view a larger portion of the content of the confidential message 210 h. In this way, the reviewer can view more information to aid in determining how to label the confidential message without having to perform the extra step of clicking on the confidential message (e.g., the reviewer merely has to hover over the confidential message to view more information). In one embodiment, another confidential message may be selected to fill the tile layout 205 portion (in place of the message 210 h illustrated in FIG. 9) by moving the cursor 320 over the area associated with another message (even though the tiles are covered/not shown in the embodiment of FIG. 9). For example, the cursor 320 may be moved over the area associated with a message adjacent to the currently selected tile of message 210 h, such as over the area of adjacent tiles 210 f and 210 g.

FIGS. 10A-B illustrate other user interfaces 900 of the message reader system 100 in which the confidential message 210 h is labeled using a key command. As described above with respect to FIGS. 4A-B, 6A-B, and 8A-B, one or more labels may be applied to the confidential message 210 h when one or more key commands (or any other commands described above) associated with the particular label are selected while the confidential message 210 h is selected in any manner described above.

FIGS. 11A-B illustrate user interfaces 1100 of the message reader system 100 in which the confidential message 210 h includes a label. In some embodiments, the identification number or code associated with a label is displayed in conjunction with a confidential message 210 a-l. As illustrated in the example of FIG. 11A, the confidential message 210 h is labeled with label 1102 a. In an embodiment, label 1102 a includes the identification number or code of the label applied to the confidential message 210 h. For example, label 1102 a includes the number “1,” which is the identification number associated with the label “Bosnia.”

In other embodiments, the subject or title associated with a label is displayed in conjunction with a confidential message 210 a-l. As illustrated in FIG. 11B, the confidential message 210 h is labeled with label 1102 b. In an embodiment, label 1102 b includes the subject or title of the label applied to the confidential message 210 h. For example, label 1102 b includes the name “Bosnia,” which is the subject or title associated with the label “Bosnia.”

In still other embodiments, not shown, the label displayed in conjunction with the confidential message 210 a-l can include any information that can be used to identify which label in the label window 212 is associated with the particular confidential message 210 a-l.

Once a confidential message, such as the confidential message 210 h, is labeled, the count associated with the label is incremented by one. For example, count 1110, which is associated with the label “Bosnia,” is incremented from 96 to 97 once confidential message 210 h is labeled. In some embodiments, the count 1110 is highlighted or otherwise changes appearances to provide feedback to the reviewer that the count has increased.

FIG. 12 illustrates a user interface 1200 of the message reader system 100 in which a set of labels and sub-labels are displayed. As described above, at least portions of the confidential messages 210 a-l can be displayed in a tile layout, a list form, or another layout. As an example, the user interface 1200 includes a list form in pane 1204 where the titles of various confidential messages are listed. The user interface 1200 also includes a pane 1206 in which a selected confidential message can be viewed.

In some embodiments, the label window 212 expands when a reviewer clicks or otherwise selects the label window 212. The expanded label window 212 may overlap at least a portion of the panes 1204 and/or 1206 and/or the tile layout 205 (not shown). Any of the labels or sub-labels can be selected by the reviewer. Selection of a label or sub-label causes the message viewer 135 to retrieve and display confidential messages associated with the selected label or sub-label in the pane 1204, the pane 1206, and/or the tile layout 205 (not shown).

Example Process Flows

FIG. 13 is a flowchart 1300 depicting one embodiment of illustrative operations of the message reader system 100. Depending on the embodiment, the method of FIG. 13 may be performed by various computing device, such as by the reviewer device 130 and/or the message data server 140. For ease of discussion, the method is discussed herein with reference to reviewer device 130 and the message viewer 135 of the reviewer device 130. Depending on the embodiment, the method of FIG. 13 may include fewer and/or additional blocks and the blocks may be performed in an order different than illustrated.

In block 1302, the message reader system 100 accesses a plurality of confidential messages. For example, the confidential messages may be accessed from the message data server 140 and provided to the reviewer device 130.

In block 1304, at least some of the plurality of confidential messages are displayed on the reviewer device 130 in a tile layout in a first view. In an embodiment, each confidential message is displayed in a separate tile. In other embodiments, not shown, the plurality of confidential messages are displayed in a list form in the first view.

In block 1306, the reviewer device 130 receives a first selection of a first tile in the tile layout in response to a user placing a cursor over the first tile. In an embodiment, the cursor is a mouse pointer. In another embodiment, the cursor is a finger of the user. The first tile may display a first confidential message.

In block 1308, the reviewer device 130 receives a second selection of a label in response to the user selecting a key command while the cursor is placed over the first tile. The key command can be selected via the use of a physical or virtual keyboard. In other embodiments, not shown, the reviewer device 130 receives the second selection of the label in response to the user selecting another command, such as a gesture, a voice command, a mouse input, and/or another keyboard input while the cursor is placed over the first tile.

In block 1310, the reviewer device 130 and/or message data server 140 updates a message association data structure to indicate a link between the label and the first confidential message in response to receiving the second selection.

In block 1312, the reviewer device 130 updates display of the first tile to include the first confidential message and the label and/or an updated count associated with the label. The label may include the subject or title of the label or the identification number or code associated with the label.

As described above, a confidential message is a type of message. Any discussion herein of a confidential message can apply to any other type of message, such as a confidential government cable. For example, other messages can be confidential or non-confidential and can include electronic messages (e.g., emails, text messages, instant messages, voicemails, reminders or alerts, etc.), presentations, news articles, reports, letters, and/or any other type of communication that includes content.

Implementation Mechanisms

According to one embodiment, the techniques described herein are implemented by one or more special-purpose computing devices. The special-purpose computing devices may be hard-wired to perform the techniques, or may include digital electronic devices such as one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) that are persistently programmed to perform the techniques, or may include one or more general purpose hardware processors programmed to perform the techniques pursuant to program instructions in firmware, memory, other storage, or a combination. Such special-purpose computing devices may also combine custom hard-wired logic, ASICs, or FPGAs with custom programming to accomplish the techniques. The special-purpose computing devices may be desktop computer systems, server computer systems, portable computer systems, handheld devices, networking devices or any other device or combination of devices that incorporate hard-wired and/or program logic to implement the techniques.

Computing device(s) are generally controlled and coordinated by operating system software, such as iOS, Android, Chrome OS, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Server, Windows CE, Unix, Linux, SunOS, Solaris, iOS, Blackberry OS, VxWorks, or other compatible operating systems. In other embodiments, the computing device may be controlled by a proprietary operating system. Conventional operating systems control and schedule computer processes for execution, perform memory management, provide file system, networking, I/O services, and provide a user interface functionality, such as a graphical user interface (“GUI”), among other things.

For example, FIG. 14 is a block diagram that illustrates a computer system 1400 upon which an embodiment may be implemented. For example, any of the computing devices discussed herein, such as the reviewer device 130, the message data server 140, and the companies 110 (which may be government entities in some embodiments), may include some or all of the components and/or functionality of the computer system 1400.

Computer system 1400 includes a bus 1402 or other communication mechanism for communicating information, and a hardware processor, or multiple processors, 1404 coupled with bus 1402 for processing information. Hardware processor(s) 1404 may be, for example, one or more general purpose microprocessors.

Computer system 1400 also includes a main memory 1406, such as a random access memory (RAM), cache and/or other dynamic storage devices, coupled to bus 1402 for storing information and instructions to be executed by processor 1404. Main memory 1406 also may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions to be executed by processor 1404. Such instructions, when stored in storage media accessible to processor 1404, render computer system 1400 into a special-purpose machine that is customized to perform the operations specified in the instructions.

Computer system 1400 further includes a read only memory (ROM) 1408 or other static storage device coupled to bus 1402 for storing static information and instructions for processor 1404. A storage device 1410, such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, or USB thumb drive (Flash drive), etc., is provided and coupled to bus 1402 for storing information and instructions.

Computer system 1400 may be coupled via bus 1402 to a display 1412, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or LCD display (or touch screen), for displaying information to a computer user. An input device 1414, including alphanumeric and other keys, is coupled to bus 1402 for communicating information and command selections to processor 1404. Another type of user input device is cursor control 1416, such as a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys for communicating direction information and command selections to processor 804 and for controlling cursor movement on display 1412. This input device typically has two degrees of freedom in two axes, a first axis (e.g., x) and a second axis (e.g., y), that allows the device to specify positions in a plane. In some embodiments, the same direction information and command selections as cursor control may be implemented via receiving touches on a touch screen without a cursor.

Computing system 1400 may include a user interface module to implement a GUI that may be stored in a mass storage device as executable software codes that are executed by the computing device(s). This and other modules may include, by way of example, components, such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components and task components, processes, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuitry, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables.

In general, the word “module,” as used herein, refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, possibly having entry and exit points, written in a programming language, such as, for example, Java, Lua, C or C++. A software module may be compiled and linked into an executable program, installed in a dynamic link library, or may be written in an interpreted programming language such as, for example, BASIC, Perl, or Python. It will be appreciated that software modules may be callable from other modules or from themselves, and/or may be invoked in response to detected events or interrupts. Software modules configured for execution on computing devices may be provided on a computer readable medium, such as a compact disc, digital video disc, flash drive, magnetic disc, or any other tangible medium, or as a digital download (and may be originally stored in a compressed or installable format that requires installation, decompression or decryption prior to execution). Such software code may be stored, partially or fully, on a memory device of the executing computing device, for execution by the computing device. Software instructions may be embedded in firmware, such as an EPROM. It will be further appreciated that hardware modules may be comprised of connected logic units, such as gates and flip-flops, and/or may be comprised of programmable units, such as programmable gate arrays or processors. The modules or computing device functionality described herein are preferably implemented as software modules, but may be represented in hardware or firmware. Generally, the modules described herein refer to logical modules that may be combined with other modules or divided into sub-modules despite their physical organization or storage

Computer system 1400 may implement the techniques described herein using customized hard-wired logic, one or more ASICs or FPGAs, firmware and/or program logic which in combination with the computer system causes or programs computer system 1400 to be a special-purpose machine. According to one embodiment, the techniques herein are performed by computer system 1400 in response to processor(s) 1404 executing one or more sequences of one or more instructions contained in main memory 1406. Such instructions may be read into main memory 1406 from another storage medium, such as storage device 1410. Execution of the sequences of instructions contained in main memory 1406 causes processor(s) 1404 to perform the process steps described herein. In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions.

The term “non-transitory media,” and similar terms, as used herein refers to any media that store data and/or instructions that cause a machine to operate in a specific fashion. Such non-transitory media may comprise non-volatile media and/or volatile media. Non-volatile media includes, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as storage device 1410. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as main memory 1406. Common forms of non-transitory media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, solid state drive, magnetic tape, or any other magnetic data storage medium, a CD-ROM, any other optical data storage medium, any physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, NVRAM, any other memory chip or cartridge, and networked versions of the same.

Non-transitory media is distinct from but may be used in conjunction with transmission media. Transmission media participates in transferring information between nontransitory media. For example, transmission media includes coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise bus 802. Transmission media can also take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio-wave and infra-red data communications.

Various forms of media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to processor 804 for execution. For example, the instructions may initially be carried on a magnetic disk or solid state drive of a remote computer. The remote computer can load the instructions into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over a telephone line using a modem. A modem local to computer system 1400 can receive the data on the telephone line and use an infra-red transmitter to convert the data to an infra-red signal. An infra-red detector can receive the data carried in the infra-red signal and appropriate circuitry can place the data on bus 1402. Bus 1402 carries the data to main memory 1406, from which processor 1404 retrieves and executes the instructions. The instructions received by main memory 1406 may retrieve and execute the instructions. The instructions received by main memory 1406 may optionally be stored on storage device 1410 either before or after execution by processor 1404.

Computer system 1400 also includes a communication interface 1418 coupled to bus 1402. Communication interface 1418 provides a two-way data communication coupling to a network link 1420 that is connected to a local network 1422. For example, communication interface 1418 may be an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card, cable modem, satellite modem, or a modem to provide a data communication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line. As another example, communication interface 1418 may be a local area network (LAN) card to provide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN (or WAN component to communicated with a WAN). Wireless links may also be implemented. In any such implementation, communication interface 1418 sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams representing various types of information.

Network link 1420 typically provides data communication through one or more networks to other data devices. For example, network link 1420 may provide a connection through local network 1422 to a host computer 1424 or to data equipment operated by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) 1426. ISP 1426 in turn provides data communication services through the world wide packet data communication network now commonly referred to as the “Internet” 1428. Local network 1422 and Internet 1428 both use electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams. The signals through the various networks and the signals on network link 1420 and through communication interface 1418, which carry the digital data to and from computer system 1400, are example forms of transmission media.

Computer system 1400 can send messages and receive data, including program code, through the network(s), network link 1420 and communication interface 1418. In the Internet example, a server 1430 might transmit a requested code for an application program through Internet 1428, ISP 1426, local network 1422 and communication interface 1418.

The received code may be executed by processor 1404 as it is received, and/or stored in storage device 1410, or other non-volatile storage for later execution.

Object Centric Data Model

To provide a framework for the above discussion of the specific systems and methods described herein, an example database system using an ontology will now be described. This description is provided for the purpose of providing an example and is not intended to limit the techniques to the example data model, the example database system, or the example database system's use of an ontology to represent information.

In one embodiment, a body of data is conceptually structured according to an object-centric data model represented by an ontology. The conceptual data model is independent of any particular database used for durably storing one or more database(s) based on the ontology. For example, each object of the conceptual data model may correspond to one or more rows in a relational database or an entry in Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) database, or any combination of one or more databases.

An ontology, as noted above, may include stored information providing a data model for storage of data in a database. The ontology may be defined by one or more object types, which may each be associated with one or more property types. At the highest level of abstraction, data object is a container for information representing things in the world. For example, data object can represent an entity such as a person, a place, an organization, or other noun. Data object can represent an event that happens at a point in time or for a duration. Data object can represent a document or other unstructured data source such as an e-mail message, a news report, or a written paper or article. Each data object is associated with a unique identifier that uniquely identifies the data object within the database system.

Different types of data objects may have different property types. For example, a “Person” data object might have an “Eye Color” property type and an “Event” data object might have a “Date” property type. Each property as represented by data in the database system may have a property type defined by the ontology used by the database.

Objects may be instantiated in the database in accordance with the corresponding object definition for the particular object in the ontology.

The data objects defined in the ontology may support property multiplicity. In particular, a data object may be allowed to have more than one property of the same property type. For example, a “Person” data object might have multiple “Address” properties or multiple “Name” properties.

Each link represents a connection between two data objects. In one embodiment, the connection is either through a relationship, an event, or through matching properties. A relationship connection may be asymmetrical or symmetrical. For example, “Person” data object A may be connected to “Person” data object B by a “Child Of” relationship (where “Person” data object B has an asymmetric “Parent Of” relationship to “Person” data object A), a “Kin Of” symmetric relationship to “Person” data object C, and an asymmetric “Member Of” relationship to “Organization” data object X. The type of relationship between two data objects may vary depending on the types of the data objects. For example, “Person” data object A may have an “Appears In” relationship with “Document” data object Y or have a “Participate In” relationship with “Event” data object E. As an example of an event connection, two “Person” data objects may be connected by an “Airline Flight” data object representing a particular airline flight if they traveled together on that flight, or by a “Meeting” data object representing a particular meeting if they both attended that meeting. In one embodiment, when two data objects are connected by an event, they are also connected by relationships, in which each data object has a specific relationship to the event, such as, for example, an “Appears In” relationship.

As an example of a matching properties connection, two “Person” data objects representing a brother and a sister, may both have an “Address” property that indicates where they live. If the brother and the sister live in the same home, then their “Address” properties likely contain similar, if not identical property values. In one embodiment, a link between two data objects may be established based on similar or matching properties (e.g., property types and/or property values) of the data objects. These are just some examples of the types of connections that may be represented by a link and other types of connections may be represented; embodiments are not limited to any particular types of connections between data objects. For example, a document might contain references to two different objects. For example, a document may contain a reference to a payment (one object), and a person (a second object). A link between these two objects may represent a connection between these two entities through their co-occurrence within the same document.

Each data object can have multiple links with another data object to form a link set. For example, two “Person” data objects representing a husband and a wife could be linked through a “Spouse Of” relationship, a matching “Address” property, and one or more matching “Event” properties (e.g., a wedding). Each link as represented by data in a database may have a link type defined by the database ontology used by the database.

Each of the processes, methods, and algorithms described in the preceding sections may be embodied in, and fully or partially automated by, code modules executed by one or more computer systems or computer processors comprising computer hardware. The processes and algorithms may be implemented partially or wholly in application-specific circuitry.

The various features and processes described above may be used independently of one another, or may be combined in various ways. All possible combinations and subcombinations are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. In addition, certain method or process blocks may be omitted in some implementations. The methods and processes described herein are also not limited to any particular sequence, and the blocks or states relating thereto can be performed in other sequences that are appropriate. For example, described blocks or states may be performed in an order other than that specifically disclosed, or multiple blocks or states may be combined in a single block or state. The example blocks or states may be performed in serial, in parallel, or in some other manner. Blocks or states may be added to or removed from the disclosed example embodiments. The example systems and components described herein may be configured differently than described. For example, elements may be added to, removed from, or rearranged compared to the disclosed example embodiments.

Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

Any process descriptions, elements, or blocks in the flow diagrams described herein and/or depicted in the attached figures should be understood as potentially representing modules, segments, or portions of code which include one or more executable instructions for implementing specific logical functions or steps in the process. Alternate implementations are included within the scope of the embodiments described herein in which elements or functions may be deleted, executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those skilled in the art.

It should be emphasized that many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, the elements of which are to be understood as being among other acceptable examples. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure. The foregoing description details certain embodiments of the invention. It will be appreciated, however, that no matter how detailed the foregoing appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. As is also stated above, it should be noted that the use of particular terminology when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being re-defined herein to be restricted to including any specific characteristics of the features or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. The scope of the invention should therefore be construed in accordance with the appended claims and any equivalents thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A computing system comprising: a computer processor; and a computer readable storage medium storing program instructions configured for execution by the computer processor in order to cause the computing system to: access a plurality of electronic communications; display the plurality of electronic communications in a first view; while a cursor hovers over at least a portion of a first electronic communication in the plurality of electronic communications in the first view, receive a first selection of a label in response to a first input, and receive a second selection of a second label in response to a second input; update an electronic communication association data structure to indicate a link between the label and the first electronic communication in response to receiving the first selection; update the electronic communication association data structure to indicate a link between the second label and the first electronic communication in response to receiving the second selection; and update display of the first electronic communication in the first view to include the first electronic communication and an indication of the label and the second label.
 2. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the label is associated with a category, and wherein the second label is associated with a sub-category of the category.
 3. The computing system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the stored program instructions further cause the processor to: display in the first view a count of a number of electronic communications associated with the label; and updating the count in response to the update of the electronic communication association data structure.
 4. The computing system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the stored program instructions further cause the processor to display an expanded view of the first electronic communication in the first view in response to a user selecting the first electronic communication.
 5. The computing system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the stored program instructions further cause the processor to: display one or more labels in a second view; receive a third selection of a third label in the one or more labels in the second view; and display one or more electronic communications associated with the third label.
 6. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the cursor comprises at least one of a mouse pointer or a finger of a user.
 7. A computer-implemented method comprising: as implemented by one or more computer systems comprising computer hardware and memory, the one or more computer systems configured with specific executable instructions, accessing a plurality of electronic communications; displaying the plurality of electronic communications in a first view; while a cursor is placed over at least a portion of a first electronic communication in the plurality of electronic communications in the first view, receiving a first selection of a label in response to a first input receiving a second selection of a second label in response to a second input; updating an electronic communication association data structure to indicate a link between the label and the first electronic communication in response to receiving the first selection; updating the electronic communication association data structure to indicate a link between the second label and the first electronic communication in response to receiving the second selection; and updating display of the first electronic communication in the first view to include the first electronic communication and an indication of the label and the second label.
 8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the label is associated with a category, and wherein the second label is associated with a sub-category of the category.
 9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising: displaying in the first view a count of a number of messages associated with the label; and updating the count in response to the update of the electronic communication association data structure.
 10. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising displaying an expanded view of the first electronic communication in the first view in response to a user selecting the first electronic communication.
 11. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising: displaying one or more labels in a second view; receiving a third selection of a third label in the one or more labels in the second view; and displaying one or more electronic communications associated with the third label.
 12. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the cursor comprises at least one of a mouse pointer or a finger of a user.
 13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising one or more program instructions recorded thereon, the instructions configured for execution by a computing system comprising one or more processors in order to cause the computing system to: access a plurality of electronic communications; display the plurality of electronic communications in a first view; while a cursor is over at least a portion of a first electronic communication in the plurality of electronic communications in the first view, receive a first selection of a label in response to a first input receive a second selection of a second label in response to a second input; update an electronic communication association data structure to indicate a link between the label and the first electronic communication in response to receiving the first selection; update the electronic communication association data structure to indicate a link between the second label and the first electronic communication in response to receiving the second selection; and update display of the first electronic communication in the first view to include the first electronic communication and an indication of the label and the second label.
 14. The medium of claim 13, wherein the label is associated with a category, and wherein the second label is associated with a sub-category of the category.
 15. The medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the computing system to: display in the first view a count of a number of messages associated with the label; and update the count in response to the update of the electronic communication association data structure.
 16. The medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the computing system to display an expanded view of the first electronic communication in the first view in response to a user selecting the first electronic communication.
 17. The medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the computing system to: display one or more labels in a second view; receive a third selection of a third label in the one or more labels in the second view; and display one or more electronic communications associated with the third label.
 18. The medium of claim 13, wherein the first selection is received via one of a gesture, a voice command, a mouse input, or a keyboard input.
 19. The computing system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the stored program instructions further cause the processor to receive the first selection via one of a gesture, a voice command, a mouse input, or a keyboard input.
 20. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein receiving the first selection further comprises receiving the first selection via one of a gesture, a voice command, a mouse input, or a keyboard input. 